Malabon mayor drops running mate over ‘lewd’ show

MANILA, Philippines - Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III formally dropped Councilor Edwin Dimagiba as his running mate for the May elections.

Oreta disclosed his decision to The STAR yesterday, a week after their slate was criticized for the “lewd” performance of sexy group Playgirls during Team Malabon’s (TM) proclamation rally last Monday. The group’s suggestive dances and games were witnessed by at least 500 people, including children.

Oreta expressed dismay over the performance and said he was “unaware” that the sexy performers were invited. He pointed to Dimagiba’s camp as the ones who organized the rally.

In a previous interview, Dimagiba said he “did not know” that the Playgirls would be there.

Oreta, who belongs to the Liberal Party, replaced Dimagiba with incumbent Malabon Vice Mayor Diosdado Cunanan, another LP member. Dimagiba is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

The development further divided Team Malabon as Oreta and 10 of their council candidates left the slate to form a new ticket called Team Liberal (TL) with Cunanan.

“I fixed (the problem) while it can still be fixed. So let’s see the result,” Oreta told The STAR in a phone interview.

Oreta said differences in campaign style and a “request” made by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II were his reasons for changing his running mate.

The mayor said two councilors stuck with TM, while the others, plus the son of Cunanan, have started their house-to-house campaign under TL. The new slate has so far visited three barangays– Tenejeros, Hulo, and Tugatog.

In a separate interview with The STAR, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Oreta’s action is allowed under the law. He added that changing of allegiance is “common” during the campaign period.

“That’s okay. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no control over the creation of new groups in the middle of the ball game,” Macalintal said.

“What you cannot change is the political party that nominated you, and which you’ve registered in your certificate of candidacy,” he added.